All the research and everything that I have read about
binaural beats seem to be completely on par. I feel so much better now that I
am sleeping more soundly. I know that I am making better decisions because I am
not procrastinating as much as before. I have done pretty well with sticking to
my nighttime routine. There were a few nights where I had gotten home from work
and was just too tired to do anything. I think that this related to the fact
that my body isn't used to sleeping as much as I have been and it is still
adjusting to being able to stay asleep. It is quite nice. I have more energy throughout
the day to do things that I need to do as well as doing the things that I enjoy
doing. Before, I was just dragging my feet and not really trying to do a really
good job, I was more focused on getting the job done and not worrying about the
quality of it. It has really helped me in schoolwork along with my job. I
am nicer and friendlier to people and instead of just getting it done; I worry
more about the quality of things and take my time to get it done right.
Monday, November 26, 2012
The Effects of Binaural Beats on Health and Wellbeing
Binaural beats have many uses for them, as I have previously
outlined. My intended use is to help me sleep at night and stay asleep. Everyone
knows that an adequate amount of sleep equals better health. Better health can
include anything from less stress to better blood pressure. Better sleep can lead
to better decision making, as noted in the article titled, ‘If You Snooze, You
Don’t Lose.’ in Money magazine, “Contemplating a big purchase or investing decision?
Not only does lack of adequate sleep impair decision-making, but
neuroscientists at Duke University recently found that sleep deprivation
changes the way your brain assesses economic value, making you more likely to
take risks.” (Mangla, 2012) . The same article
says to “create a sleep routine.” (Mangla, 2012). The routine that I have
created is that I get my stuff ready for the next day, clothes, school stuff,
work stuff, etc. Then I get my clothes out that I am wearing for the night.
Then I take a hot shower, because “when your temperature falls afterward, your
body releases the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin.” (Mangla, 2012). This
way, my body is already getting ready for sleep, then I get into bed and turn
the app on and within the next thirty minutes or so, I am soundly asleep. And
the best part of it is that the sound keeps going all night or as long as my
battery permits it to, so I stay asleep. And more importantly, I never go to
bed less than 8 hours before. What I mean by this is that I get into bed at
least eight hours before I am supposed to wake up. This gives me an hour or so
to get situated or get to relaxing. The common thing is that we ALL need eight
hours of sleep. This is the recommended amount, however, everyone is different.
I only need seven hours to function at my fullest capacity.
Citations
Mangla, I. S. (2012, April). If You Snooze, You Don't
Lose. Money, pp. 51-52.
My Overall Experience of Using Relaxing Melodies or Binaural Beats
The link above is a promo video for the Relaxing Melodies. This
is just to provide a little more information about the app itself.
I have never felt so good in the morning. It’s really hard
to pay attention to how your body feels when you are falling asleep fast. I
believe in the last entry, I had mentioned somewhere that immediate details of
the outside world become less and less significant. This is so true! I was
trying to pay attention to how I felt, physically and emotionally, along with
thinking about other things, such as what I had to do today, and then it got to
where I was just focusing on the sound and then before I knew it, I was waking
up the next day. I have to admit that at first, I wasn't so sure about the
whole binaural thing. I personally like variety and spontaneity and I thought
there was no way that a ‘monotonous’ tone would lull me to sleep. But it did. Whether
it will actually be easy or not, is of no concern. Some concerns I do have are
more with the device I use rather than the binaural beats. I know I mentioned
that certain wavelengths have a drug like effect and that some people become ‘hooked’
on it, but I haven’t felt that, at least not yet and I have been using this for
a good two months now. When I first started using this, it was working instantly.
That first morning after using it, I felt so much better already. I could feel
that things had change within me. I felt better, not so tensed, and relaxed! Now,
after two months of using this at least every other night, I feel significantly
different. I am not as angry any more. I don't feel like everything is hopeless
as soon as it doesn't go the way I want it to. I feel as though things are
easier to accomplish because I am more clear-headed since I don't get angry so
easily. It is really as though a huge burden has been lifted off my chest, much
like how it feels after the end of a school semester. But having this happen before
the end of the semester, it is so much better for my health. Because I am not
so stressed out and easily angered all the time, my immune system is stronger
and I don't get sick as often as I used to. I think it is safe to say that I
will be continuing to use this in one shape or form, for a very long time to
come.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Binaural Beats and Insomina
I have
had trouble sleeping lately. I say lately, but I really mean my whole life. You
can ask my parents! have tried EVERYTHING to help me sleep and stay asleep. I
have tried it all, from prescribed medications to over the counter medications
to home remedies. It all works at first, but then my body
becomes accustomed to it, then my body requires more and more
amounts, which is not something that I can do a lot. I don't mind taking the
medications, but I mind taking a lot of different ones, or a lot of the same
one to get the same effects of just one. Plus, that is stuff that doesn't
naturally belong in the body and it can affect you in the long way. What I am
trying to say, is that I have always been trying to find a solution that works
that wouldn't involve taking medications. I never really could find the
solution. That all began to change when I started taking Psychology of Mind and
Body. When I first signed up, I only did so to fulfill psychology degree
requirements, but I believe deep down, unconsciously I chose this
class, because it would lead me to the answer I have been looking for for a
long time. And it has. What has started out as a class project/assignment, has
ended up being the closest thing to a solution as I have ever come to. Are you
ready for this? Binaural beats! You are probably thinking what? But I am
thinking YES!
So, what are binaural beats?
According to Dictionary.com, the first definition for 'binaural' is having two
ears, and of sound, means that 'recorded through two separate microphones
and transmitted through two separate channels to produce a
stereophonic effect.' The best way to hear this stereophonic effect is through
the use of headphones. To further explain this, "a binaural beat frequency
is an audio phenomenon that occurs in the brain when two slightly different
sine waves are delivers to each ear through headphones." (Gelb &
Howell, 2012). Sine waves are "a continuous wave
with a constant frequency and amplitude." (Gelb & Howell, 2012).
This best way to fully understand is this, "the
two hemispheres of the brain function together to "hear"
not the external sound signals but instead a third "phantom"
beat." (Gelb & Howell, 2012).
What are binaural beats used for?
Peter Grainger of Positive Health magazine outlines it for us in the following:
·
Gamma: 22-30Hz
(hertz)
o
Attention or sensory
stimulation, perception, or consciousness
·
Beta: 12-22Hz
o
Associated with high
state of wakefulness, high state of arousal and some drug effects
·
Alpha: 8-12Hz
o
Allows brain to
enter energy conservation mode
o
Immediate detail of
the outer world becomes less and less significant
o
Important function as
connection between conscious and subconscious
o
Allows for recollection
of dreams, the remembrance of events in meditation, the recall of a creative
synthesis of a solution of a daily problem, and the creation of healing images
to assist the body to repair and recover from injury
o
High levels of
success in sports and performing arts
·
Theta: 4-8Hz
o
Full memory
search/verbal performance, scanning for pleasure, quiet focus/extroversion/low
anxiety, low neuroticism
o
Closely related to
sleep function and to the necessary restoration g he body
o
Actively repairing
damage done while awake
o
Essential to immune
system and other systems concerned with growth and duplication
o
Autonomic nervous
system is restored and rebalanced
·
Delta: 0.5-4Hz
o
Brain is scanning for
internal associations, altering internal and external consciousness
o
Essential to daily
function of the body and to regulate all aspect of physiology
o
High amplitude related
to the ability to empathize with other human beings
For this project, I
am interested in delta and theta waves the most. So how does one go about
accessing binaural beats? Internet mostly, or sleep machine apps. I wasn't sure
myself really on where to start. I started researching and I ended up at this
link: http://www.ellecanada.com/living/night-owl-how-to-get-your-beauty-sleep/a/35181/2
It’s here that the author, Alannah O’Neill,
mentions different ways to try. The three options are binaural beats, mind
control, yoga nidra. Since I was already interested in the binaural beats, that
is the direction I chose. I have an iPhone, so I set out to get the app she had
said that she downloaded, but it was $2.99. Personally, I don't like to buy
apps unless I try them out because most of the time, I wouldn't get a refund.
However, iTunes gave me suggestions that were close to it and were free. This
is when I found the app, Relax Melodies. This free app had about 18 sounds and
then the binaural beats at the alpha and theta level. After testing it for
several days, I bought the full app which included the six binaural beats and
over 90 sounds.
The description for each level is as follows
from the app itself:
·
Concentration
o
Beta: 20Hz
§ The Beta wave can be used for active
concentration. If you are awake and have a difficult problem to solve or need
to stay focused, this could be the solution.
·
Relaxation
o
Mid
Alpha: 10Hz
§ The Mid Alpha wave helps you to start relaxing
when you are in an active state. You can still stay awake, but you will feel
your mind becoming more relaxed.
·
Pre-Sleep
o
Low
Alpha: 8Hz
§ The Low Alpha wave reproduces the pre-sleep
and the pre-wake frequency of your brain. This sound prepares you to enter
slowly or get out of smoothly of your sleep.
·
Deep Meditation
o
Mid
Theta: 5Hz
§ The Mid Theta wave enables you to go into
deep state of mediation. It will facilitate the transition between sleep and
wakefulness.
·
Dreams
o
Low
Theta: 4Hz
§ The Low Theta guides your brain to the dream
stage. You will be able to reach more easily this important stage of sleep.
·
Dreamless
Sleep
o
Delta:
2.5Hz
§ The Delta is the lowest frequency of the binaural
sounds. This sound makes you enter more easily in the deepest and most important
portion of your sleep cycle
These next several entries will cover my personal experiences of using this app and how having
done this, how it affects all other aspects of my life, waking and sleeping.
Citations
Gelb, M. J., & Howell, K. (2012, Mar/April). Synchronize Your Brain. Share Guide, pp. 18-19.
Grainger, P. (2009, December). Brain Waves and
Altered States of Consciousness. Positive Health, pp. 1-1.
O'Neill, A. (n.d.). Retrieved from Elle Canda:
http://www.ellecanada.com/living/night-owl-how-to-get-your-beauty-sleep/a/35181/2
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